I don't know how to interpret "open ended" in this context. I see projects being in one of these 3 categories. First, I know the end result, and I have done t

I don't know how to interpret "open ended" in this context. I see projects being in one of these 3 categories. First, I know the end result, and I have done this before. I know what to focus on what not to, i have past experience to filter it out. I can predict how long it will take and slog it through to get stuff done with a deadline. Second, I know the end result, just need to figure out how to get there. These tend to take longer than expected but they do get done. A deadline here would just mean, in most cases, me not being happy with the end result and dropping it or not having time enough to fit in the deadline. Third, I don't know what the end result looks like. These are the stuff that just don't go anywhere. Setting a deadline here is just counter productive, expectations don't line up to reality, timelines are vague, direction is not clear. Deadlines only make this worse. Only thing I can imagine here is to set a timeout. Try to clarify and run small experiments. If nothing comes out of this in say 2 days, drop it.